The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

narrative of the discourse between Brahma, O king,
and the Three-eyed Mahadeva. In the midst of
the Ocean of milk, there is a very high mountain of
great effulgence like that of gold, known, O monarch,
by the name of Vaijayanta. Repairing thither
all alone, from his own abode of great splendour and
felicity, the illustrious deity Brahma used very often
to pass his time, engaged in thinking on the course
of Adhyatma. While the four-faced Brahma of great
intelligence was seated there, his son Mahadeva, who
had sprung from his forehead encountered him one day
in course of his wanderings through the universe.
In days of yore, the Three-eyed Siva endued with puissance
and high Yoga, while proceeding along the sky, beheld
Brahma seated on that mountain and, therefore, dropped
down quickly on its top. With a cheerful heart
he presented him before his progenitor and worshipped
his feet. Beholding Mahadeva prostrated at his
feet, Brahma took him up with his left hand. Having
thus raised Mahadeva up, Brahma, that puissant and
one Lord of all creatures, then addressed his son,
whom he met after a long time, in these words.

“The Grandsire said, ’Welcome art thou,
O thou of mighty arms. By good luck I see thee
after such a long time come to my presence. I
hope, O son, that everything is right with thy penances
and thy Vedic studies and recitations. Thou art
always observant of the austerest penances. Hence
I ask thee about the progress and well-being of those
penances of thine!’

“Rudra said, ’O illustrious one, through
thy grace, all is well with my penances and Vedic
studies. It is all right, again, with the universe.
I saw thy illustrious self a long while ago in thy
own home of felicity and effulgence. I am coming
thence to this mountain that is now the abode of thy
feet.[1917] Great is the curiosity excited in my mind
by this withdrawal of thyself into such a lone spot
from thy usual region of felicity and splendour.
Great must the reason be, O Grandsire, for such an
act on thy part. Thy own foremost abode is free
from the pains of hunger and thirst, and inhabited
by both deities and Asuras, by Rishis of immeasurable
splendour, as also by Gandharvas and Apsaras.
Abandoning such a spot of felicity, thou residest
alone in this foremost of mountains. The cause
of this cannot but be grave.

“Brahma said, ’This foremost of mountains,
called Vaijayanta, is always my residence. Here,
with concentrated mind, I meditate on the one universal
Purusha of infinite proportions.’

“Rudra said, ’Self-born thou art.
Many are the Purushas that have been created by thee.
Others again, O Brahma, are being created by thee.
The Infinite Purusha, however, of whom thou speakest,
is one and single. Who is that foremost of Purushas,
O Brahma, that is being meditated by thee? Great
is the curiosity I feel on this point. Do thou
kindly dispel the doubt that has taken possession
of my mind.